Pharmacodynamics & toxicological profile of PartySmart, a herbal preparation for alcohol hangover in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: PartySmart is a herbal preparation intended for the management of alcohol hangover and other related toxic effects in clinical situation. The present study was designed to investigate the pharmacodynamics and oral toxicity of PartySmart, a herbal formulation in rats. METHODS: Effect of PartySmart on blood acetaldehyde and alcohol levels was evaluated at doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt. in rats. Acute toxicity study was conducted with PartySmart at a limit test dose of 2000 mg/kg b.wt., p.o. In repeated dose 90 day study, PartySmart was administered at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.wt. once-a-day, orally throughout the study period. RESULTS: PartySmart dose-dependently decreased blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels as compared to control. PartySmart at a dose of 500 mg/kg b.wt. significantly reduced the area under curve (AUC) of ethanol and acetaldehyde levels. It increased the hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) at 500 mg/kg b.wt. and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. significantly. Acute toxicity study showed no clinical signs and pre-terminal deaths. The LD(50) of PartySmart was found to be greater than 2000 mg/kg b.wt. No significant differences in PartySmart-treated groups were observed on body weight, food intake, haematological and clinical chemistry, and organ weight ratios as compared to control group in the repeated dose study. Histopathological examination of all target organs showed no evidence of lesions attributing to drug toxicity. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: PartySmart enhanced acetaldehyde metabolism by increasing ADH and ALDH activity without any side effects. These findings indicate that PartySmart may exert beneficial role in the management of alcohol hangover without any toxicity.

Ameliorative effect of Partysmart in rat model of alcoholic liver disease.

Present study was designed to investigate the effect of polyherbal formulation PartySmart in experimental model of alcoholic liver disease in male Wistar strain rats. Alcohol plus fish oil were administered to animals for 8 weeks to induce liver injury. PartySmart was administered at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight. After 8 weeks, parameters such as liver weight, liver function serum markers alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid peroxidation were studied. Livers from all the groups were subjected for histological evaluation. Treatment with PartySmart at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight showed significant reduction in the levels of serum ALT, AST and ALP with a decrease in liver weight as compared to ethanol-fed rats. A significant decrease was also observed in malondialdehyde levels following treatment with PartySmart at 500 mg/kg body weight. Histological profile of liver tissue in PartySmart-treated animals showed lesser vacuolar degeneration and intactness of hepatic architecture along with improved glycogen deposition as demonstrated by PAS staining. PartySmart ameliorated alcohol-induced liver injury by preventing cell membrane disturbances, reduction of oxidative stress by free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity and normalization of altered intracellular redox status. Thus, PartySmart can be beneficial in the treatment of alcohol-induced liver damage.

Induction and evaluation of atherosclerosis in New Zealand white rabbits.

Atherosclerosis was experimentally induced in New Zealand white rabbits by feeding a high cholesterol diet for 12 weeks for screening of drugs against atherosclerosis. After 12 weeks, blood was collected from ear vein for evaluation of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, then the animals were sacrificed to collect the livers for estimation of cholesterol, and aorta for gross and histopathological evaluations. The elevated levels of serum and liver parameters accompanied by gross and histopathological changes like accumulation of foam cells, atheromatous plaque formation and replacement fibrosis supported the successful induction of atherosclerosis in New Zealand white rabbits.

Effect of HD-03--a herbal formulation in galactosamine-induced hepatopathy in rats.

The effect of HD-03 a herbal preparation was studied on galactosamine (400 mg/kg b.wt., i.p.) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Animals were pre-treated for 14 days with HD-03 and compared against untreated group for SGPT, SGOT, serum bilirubin and liver glycogen. Histopathology of liver lobes was considered to evaluate the extent of hepatic injury induced by galactosamine. These were reversed by HD-03 pre-treatment. HD-03 provided convincing evidence of hepatoprotection against galactosamine induced hapatotoxicity.

Anti-cholestatic activity of HD-03, a herbal formulation in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced experimental cholestasis.

In the present study HD-03, a herbal formulation was investigated for its anti-cholestatic activity in TAA-induced cholestasis in anaesthetized guinea pigs. Administration of TAA at a dose of 100 mg/kg body wt significantly reduced the bile flow, bile acid and bile salt excretion. Pretreatment with HD-03 at a dose of 750 mg/kg body wt per orally for 15 days in guinea pigs significantly prevented thioacetamide-induced changes in bile flow, bile acids and bile salts excretion. Thus, HD-03 can serve as a potent choleretic and anti-cholestatic agent.

Effect of D-400, a herbomineral formulation on liver glycogen content and microscopic structure of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats.

Streptozotocin induces severe and irreversible hyperglycaemia in experimental animals. The effect of oral administration of D-400 (1 gm/kg/day), a herbomineral formulation on streptozotocin induced-diabetes was studied in rats. Liver glycogen content was assayed biochemically on 2,4 and 8 weeks after D-400 treatment. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity of pancreatic islet cells was assessed on 8th week of D-400 treatment. The microscopic structure of pancreas and liver were examined in both control and treated animals. D-400 treatment showed progressive and significant increase in liver glycogen at 2,4 and 8 weeks respectively. Streptozotocin induced a decrease in pancreatic islet cell superoxide dismutase which was reversed by D-400 treatment for a period of 8 weeks. The free radical scavenging activity of D-400 may be attributed to shilajeet, one of its important ingredient. Streptozotocin induced histopathological changes in pancreas and liver was also partially reversed by D-400. The findings indicate that D-400 helps in improving the glycogen stores in the liver and prevents the streptozotocin induced damage through free radicals by increasing the islet cell superoxide dismutase activity.

Effect of D-400, a herbomineral preparation on lipid profile, glycated haemoglobin and glucose tolerance in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats.

This study was undertaken to investigate D-400, a herbomineral formulation in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. Glycated haemoglobin, lipid profile and glucose tolerance test were studied. D-400 has an established hypoglycaemic effect in alloxan induced diabetes in rats as well as in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. D-400 treated group showed lower glycated haemoglobin, triglycerides and higher HDL levels. The hyperglycaemic response was blunted after administration of oral glucose in the same group.

Effect of D-400, a herbal formulation, on blood sugar of normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Blood sugar levels of normal rats treated with D-400 showed significant reduction (P < 0.05) as compared to control groups. The fall was seen at one month and remained so uptill 3 months. Hyperglycemic response to adrenaline was significantly lowered (P < 0.05) following D-400 treatment. D-400 potentiated the hypoglycemia following tolbutamide treatment. Blood sugar remained persistently low in tolbutamide plus D-400 treated group after 3 and 4 hours (P < 0.05). In the alloxan-induced diabetic rats, a significant lowering of blood and urinary sugar was noticed on day 20, 30 and 40 following treatment with D-400 (P < 0.05). Liver glycogen depletion was significantly inhibited in the D-400 treated group (P < 0.025). D-400 has significantly potentiated (P < 0.05) the hypoglycemic action of insulin in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Immunotherapeutic modification by an ayurvedic formulation Septilin.

Effect of Septilin, an ayurvedic formulation proven to be effective in the therapy of chronic infections, was investigated on the phagocytic system and humoral response in rats and mice. Septilin exhibited significant protection in E. coli-induced abdominal sepsis in normal mice and in Staphylococcus aureus-induced sepsis in neutropenic mice. It significantly reduced the viable E. coli cells when incubated with neutrophils in rats. Septilin stimulated the phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system in mice. In normal rats, Septilin enhanced anti-SRBC hemagglutination antibody titre by 5.7-fold and showed significant protection in cyclophosphamide-induced humoral suppression.